Tack machine



Julie 1932- ca. B BAKER IIET AL TACK MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 5, 1928 June 21, 1932,

G. B. BAKER ET AL TACK MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet B-Ereker Patented June 21, 1932 NITE'I) STATES PATENT OFFICE I GEORGE B. BAKER, HERBERT B. BAKER, AND EDWARD C. BAKER, OF BROCKTON', MAS- SACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T GEOBGE B. BAKER -AND EDWARD C. BAKER, 0F BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AS SURVIVING- JOINT TENAN'TS TACK MACHINE Application filed December 5, 1928. Serial No. 323,926.

7 This invention pertains to the manufacture of cut tacks and nails and more particularly to the preparation of the blank stock and to means for delivering suchprepared stock to the cutting instrumentalities. In our application for patent, Serial No. 282,899, filed June 5, 1928 we have disclosed simple apparatus capable in an effective and reliable manner of feeding coiled ribbon like tack strip to the cutting means, thus avoiding the need for frequent replenishment and without requiring complicated and expensive magazine mechanism. 7

In our aforesaid applicatlon we descrlbed means for supporting a coil of tack strip so as to permit it to uncoil easily in response to the pull of feeding and gripping devices disposed adjacent to the cutting instrumentalities of the tack machine and under most circumstances the arrangement disclosed in said application is useful, highly effective and results in a great saving in labor and material. However, when dealing with heavy or wide tack plate or when using coils ofgreat diameter we have found that the usual feeding and gripping devices are not always able to drag the heavy and stiff strip from the coil and through the straightening devices with the desired uniformity and certainty of action. It is essential in machines of this type that the end portion at least of the tack strip which is presented to the cutters, be turned through 180 between successive cutting'operations, but the ribb'onelike strip is of stiff material, and if it is to be delivered from a coil or other continuous supply which does notoscillat-e or turn to the same extent, the run of material extending from the supply to the feeding and gripping means must be of substantial length and free from restraint in order to permit the material to twist throughout 180 Without undue resistance. Moreover since the strip is flexible it is quite desirable, in order to obtain accurate operation without undue format-ion of waste and imperfect work to have the feeding gripper disposed as close to the cutters as possible so that bucklingof the strip betweenthe grippers and cutters will not take place.

In accordance with the present invention we provide means for advancing the tack I strip toward the feeding grippers, the latter being located adjacent to the cutters, such advancing means preferably comprising,

mechanism for turning the reel so as to unroll the coiled strip at substantially I the speed necessary for its proper reception by the feeding grippers. Thereel may be turned intermittently or continuously by a power driven or any other motor means, such for example as a coiled spring, individualelectricmotor, etc. but in any case we prefer to employ a nonpositive or slip drive in order to avoidinterference with the normal operation of the feeding grippers. By turning the reel in this Way the grippers are relieved of this duty and operate with the same accuracy and certainty regardless of the stiffness or thickness of the strip, while the strip, after emerging from the straightening devices, extends in an unrestricted run to the feeding grippers, thus providing an adequate length in which the twist can take place. WVhile we usually prefer to turn the reel itself for uncoiling. the strip, it may be desirable in some cases,.to apply the uncoiling means directly to the strip, preferably closely adjacent to the straightening devices so as to ensure proper passage of the strip through the straightening devices without buckling.

Sincethe feed movement of the strip must take place while the movable cutters are up, and since the barrel begins to oscillate immediately after the passage of the movable cutters downwardly past the fixed cutter, it is manifestly undesirable to drive the reel or to control its turning by connections from the barrel oscillating mechanism. Accordingly we prefer to provide a special cam or other appropriate device on the main shaft of the machine for driving or controlling the reel, although through proper linkage it may to have a further function in the tack mak ing operation since unless the plate, when fed to the tack machine, has a heavy and substantially uniform surface coating of lime, the tacks produced are non-uniform, having heads which are irregular and deformed. While we are not prepared to explain the reason for this action of the lime, its effect is well known to tack makers. and for this reason it is customary to lime the short independent tack strips ordinarily employed before use to insure a uniform coating of lime when the strip is presented to the machine.

As the preparation of tack strip in coiled form requires special machinery, it is usually necessary for the tack maker to purchase such strip in coiled form, and although the strip is pickled to remove scale before coiling, it is apparently impractical to give the desired heavy coating of lime essential for tack making at this stage of the operation.

7 Moreover, since the coils employed may be three hundred feet or more in length it is not desirable to uncoil and recoil the strip for liming, and under ordinary conditions the limewill not enter with certainty between the closely packed turns of the coil strip. However, we have discovered that by heating the coil and then liming, as by immersing the coiled strip bodily in a bath of hot boiling lime solution, the expansion of the coil opens it up to such an extent as to permit the free entry of the lime between its turns. After the lime treatment, the coil is allowed to cool and contract, and a substantially uniform coating of deposited lime covers the entire surface of the strip. Since it is apparently necessary, in order to obtain proper results, to provide the coiled strip with a uniform coating of lime before its delivery to the machine, we regard this method of coating the coiled strip as of high importance and we consider such a closely coiled strip, having a substantially uniform coating of lime upon its opposite faces and edges as falling within the purview of our invention.

In the accompanying drawings we have disclosed certain desirable embodiments of means for turning the coil support or reel in accordance with our invention. but wish it to be understood that the specific constructions shown are merely by way of example and that all equivalent means fall within the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig.1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a tack machine of the type above referred to, showing the present im-: provements applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, to larger scale, showing in greater detail the delivery end of the strip supporting barrel and adjacent parts;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section to larger scale showing details of the coil supporting reel and desirable means for turning it;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating modified means for driving the reel; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 3 but showing a further modification;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the coil supporting reel but showing it provided with means directly engaging the strip for pulling the latter from the reel;

Fig.8 is a section to larger scale on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the main shaft, diagrammatically indicating the relation of the cams for actuating the cutter and the reel actuating mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1 we have herein disclosed a tack machine of the general type more fully described in our application for patent, Serial No. 282,899, filed June 15, 1928. This machine, among other things, comprises a supporting frame 1 having bearings for the usual main shaft 2 carrying the principal operating cams, cranks, etc. for actuating the movable parts of the machine, including the reciprocating cutters 5 and 6 (Fig. 2) and the limiting stop 7. The frame also supports an anvil block 3 carrying the fixed cutter 4, the latter having adiagonal cutting edge as is usual.

The machine also comprises means for supporting the tubular oscillating barrel 8 provided at its delivery end with the nose piece 9 adapted to support the tack strip and to uid-e it closely adjacent to the cutting point.

he barrel also carries a casing 10 disposed just to the rear of the nose piece, such casing enclosing feed rolls adapted to grip the tack strip S between them and to feed it'positively into the nose piece. These rolls are turned intermittently by pawl and ratchet means as described morefully in our aforesaid application, the forward feed of thestrip taking place just as the barrel completes its oscillat10n in one or the other direction and while the cutters 5 and 6 are up.

The forward or feed movement of the feed rollscis produced by the action of a spring 11 (Fig. 1) or its equivalent acting through a rocker 11 to exert a force urging the strip toward the stop 7 while the cutters are up and holding it against the stop with constant pressure during the cutting operation. While the barrel is oscillating, the spring 11 is temporarily rendered inoperative by the action of cam 31 on the main shaft, thus permitting the feed roll driving pawl 12 to re tract and engage an advanced tooth of its ratchet. The barrel is oscillated by the straps 13 and 14 (Fig. 1) in the usual manner and preferably is provided with a stationary tubular extension or guide 15 aligned with the barrel and adapted to confine and to guide the tack strip on its way to the barrel. Preferably this stationary extension or guide 15 has a bell mouth 16 at its receiving; end to facilitate entrance of the tack strip.

In accordance with the present invention we provide means for supporting a coil C (Fig. 3) of ribbon-like tack strip S in a position for direct delivery into the .bell mouth 16 of the guide 15.

As herein illustrated we provide a rotary reel for supporting the coil of tack strip, pref? erably mounting this reel upon a movable support 17 having a base 18 adapted to rest upon the floor at the desired distance from the tack machine proper. Obviously this support 17 may form a permanent part of the frame of the tack machine if desired although we find it more convenient to employ an independent support. Preferably the upper part of this support 17 is slightly inclined to the vertical, as indicated at 17 a and constitutes a shaft or spindle about which the reel turns with the plane of the reel inclined at substantially the same angle as the barrel 8.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3,4 and 7 for details of the reel construction, the upper part 17 of the reel support, which is preferably cylindrical and of suitable diameter, is provided with .a fixed collar 19 upon which rests the hub of a ratchet wheel 20 adapted to turn freely on the member 17 and preferably having ball bearings 21 interposed betweenit and the collar 19. A freely rotating collar 22 surroundsthe hub of the wheel 20 and rests upon the outcr part of the fixed collar 19. This collar 22 carries an arm 23 (Fig. 4) upon which is mounted a pawl 24 engaging the teeth of the wheel 20. Suitable spring means not shown, tends to retain the pawl 24 in engagement with the teeth of the wheel 20. The collar 22 also has an'arm 25 to which is connected one end of a link 26. The other end of this link is pivotally connected to arocker arm 27 mounted on a shaft 28 journaled in a suitable part of the frame. A thrust bar 30 is pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm 27 and at its other end to the usual lever M which actuates the forming dies. This lever M is also connected by a link 31 to the rocker 11 above referred to so that the spring 11 tends to hold the lever M in contact with the cam 31 on the shaft 2 at all times. The cam 31 bears such relation to the cam 32 which actuates the cutters that the movement of the lever M tothe left (Fig. 9) follows the downward movement of the cutters. As the lever M moves to the left the rocker arm 27 is also moved to the left and the pawl 24 (Fig. 4) is actuated to engage an advanced tooth of the ratchet wheel. As the shaft 2 continues to turn, the cam 31 disengages lever M, thus permitting spring 11 to swing lever M to the right. thereby, and through the connections 30 and 26, causing the pawl 24 to turn the ratchet wheel 20, it being noted that at this time the cutters are retracted since the cam 32 has moved to an idle position. With the cutters thus retracted the tack strip is fedforward beneath them so that upon the next downward stroke of the cutters the projecting end of the strip is cut off.

The upper surface of the ratchet wheel 20 carries a disk or a plurality of sectors 33 of suitable clutch facing material such for example as sheet cork, felt, or the like, and on this material rests a radial flange 34 projecting from a sleeve 35 turning freely on the .member 17 and having an upper flange 36 which forms the base proper of the reel. A plurality of arms 37 project from the flange 36 and form supports for the coil C of tack material. vided with adjustable stops 38 for engagement with the inner periphery of the coil. The reel also comprises a cover member 39 adapted to be slipped downover the end of the supporting member 17 and tobe secured thereto, as forexample, by means of a set screw, andcomprising a series of arms 40 provided attheir outer ends withdepending elements preferably in the form of rollers 41 adapted to confine the coil while permitting it to unwind easily as the reel turns. Preferably one arm 42 of the cover member is provided at its extremity with a plurality of straightening elements, for example, rolls 43 and 44 between which the tack strip S passes on its way to the receiving end of the guide 15. Suitable stop means 45, as described in our aforesaid application may be arranged at the entrance to the bell mouth 16. i In operation, after each retraction of th reciprocating enters, the member M moves to the right 1) whereupon spring 11 rocks rocker arm 27. Thus link 26 moves the arms 25 and 23 in a clockwise direction. as viewed Preferably the arms 37 are proin Fig. 4, thus turning the ratchet wheel 20,

and through the friction clutch elements comprising the parts 33 and 34, tending to turn the wheel and thus to advance the tack strip between the straightening rolls 43 and 44 and into'the entrance to the guide 15. At

substantially the same time in the cycle of operations of the machine, the feed rolls in the casing 10 are advanced by the action of the spring 11, thus also tending to feed the tack strip forwardly and beneath the cutters which are now elevated and out of the path ample, the main cam shaft.

reel in the manner described will result in an over travel of the tack strip and abnormal feed. By the arrangement described it is possible to use coils of tack strip of as large diameter as may be desired, thus permitting the tack machine to run interruptedly for a very long period, for example ten to twelve hours wi hout replenishing.

Since the tack strip is not gripped or otherwise confined from the time it enters the guide member 15 until it passes between the feed rolls, it is free to twist as the barrel oscillates without danger of permanent deformation and without requiring an abnormal amount of power for operating the machine but on the other hand as the tack strip is gripped and positively fed by the feed rolls in casin 10, (said rolls beinglocated very close to the cutting point) there is substantially no danger of buckling the tack strip even though it be of very thin gauge, and the amount of waste is reduced to a minimum.

In Fig. 5 we have shown a slight modifica tion of the reel construction in which in place of the ratchet wheel 26 we substitute a sprocket wheel 16 driven constantly at a slow rate by means of a chain l7 engaging a sprocket wheel (not shown) on some convenient rotary shaft of the machine, for ex:- The upper surface of this sprocket wheel 46 supports the friction element 33 upon which rests the flange 34- of the reel comprising the upper flange 36 and the radial arms 37. With this arrangement there is a constant tendency to turn the wheel but by reason of the slip connections between the sprocket wheel and the reel, the latter is actually advanced only when the feed rolls at the delivery end of the barrel are operating to advance the strip. It is evident that'by suitably selecting the friction material the slip between the reel and the driving wheel may be made such as to provide proper turning of the reel without danger of buckling the tack strip.

In Fig. 6 we have-shown a further modilieation wherein, in place of the fixed supporting collar 19, we provide a fixed hub member 48 having a radial flange forming a sup-' port for a coiled spring 49. The inner end of this spring is secured to the support 17 at 50 while its outer end is connected at 51 to a flange depending from the outer edge of a rotary disk 52, the latter with its flange forming a housing for the spring. The disk 52 carries the friction element 33 upon which rests the flange 34 of the reel in the manner above described. In this arrangement'the spring is first wound up by turning the casing 52, this being done just prior to the placing of a fresh coil upon the reel. The spring then constantly tends to uncoil the strip, and the slip connections between the reel and spring casing operate in the same way as in the device of Fig. 5. Obviously other drive means such for example as an electric motor may be employed if desired.

In Figs. 7 and 8 we have shown a further modification in which instead of turning the reel we provide means engaging the tack strip itself for drawing the latter from the reel. In accordance with this arrangement we provide a support 53 which may if desired be mounted upon the standard 17 or upon a fixed part. of the machine frame, and which is provided with a journal for a shaft 54: having fixed thereon a friction roll 55 of any suitable material. The shaft 54 has fixed thereon a ratchet wheel 56 and also carries a freely swinging arm 57 provided with a pawl 58 engaging the teeth of the ratchet 56. The member 57 is connected to the link 26 above described so that whenever the cutters are in their upper position the pawl 58 is actuated to turn the ratchet wheel 56 and its roller 55 in proper position to advance the tack strip. A roll 59 cooperates with the roll 55 in feeding the tack strip, this roll 59 being mounted on a sh aft 60 journalled in bearings adapted to slide toward and from the shaft 5;. Springs 62 constantly urge the roll 59 toward the roll 55 so as to grip the tack strip S between them. Preferably, as shown, the rolls 55 and 59 are disposed just in advance of the straightening devices 43 and i l so as to pull off the tack strip from the reel and deliver it into the straightening device from which it passes into the bell mouth of the guide 15. I v

The rolls 55 and 59 are made of such material that, in connection with the yieldable mounting of roll 59, they permit slipping between them and the tack strip so as not to interfere with the proper feed of the tack strip as determined by the feed'rollers in the casing 10. Moreover since the rolls 55 and 59 are actuated only when the cutters are retraced, the advance of the tack strip is possible without buckling the strip or otherwise interfering with its proper delivery to the cutting elements.

As above pointed out it is apparently necessary that the tack strip, before presentation to the cutters of the tack machine be provided with a substantially uniform thin coating of lime or some equivalent substance and in accordance with our present invention we prepare the coiled tackstrip before mounting it upon the reel preferably by immersing it in a bath of boiling lime solution. The

high temperature causes the individual turns to eXpand, thus loosening the coil so that the lime is able to penetrate between the turns of the coil. After a sufficient time for such penetration to take place the coil is removed and permitted to cool and is then ready for mounting upon the reel. Alternatively, in-' stead of placing the coil in a. hot solution of lime and depending upon the temperature of the lime solution to expand the coil, the

coil may be heated by placing it in a proper oven and after expansion, immersing it in a lime solution either cold or hot, since by the preheating of the coil its turns are separated sufficiently to permit free entry of the lime between them.

While we have here shown desirable means for turning the coil and advancing the tack strip so as to relieve the feed rolls of this work, we wish it to be understood that the specific means herein described is not to be considered as limiting our invention but that other and equivalent means may be substituted therefor and that various changes in size and proportional parts may be submitted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVe claim:

1. A tack machine of the kind having an oscillatory but non-reciprocating strip supporting barrel, a reciprocatory cutter and stop means for limiting advance of the tack strip, comprising means for advancing the tack strip intermittently toward the cutting point, a reel for holding a coiled tack strip, and means for intermittently turning the reel to deliver the strip into the barrel.

2. A tack machine of the type having an intermittently oscillating strip supporting barrel, a reciprocatory cutter, and stop means for limiting the advance of the tack strip, said machine comprising a reel for holding a coiled tack strip, feed means for gripping and advancing the tack strip, and means for intermittently turning the reel to deliver the strip into the barrel, both the feed means and reel turning means being constructed and arranged to act while the cutter is retracted from the path of the advancing end of the stri 3. A tack machine of the type having an intermittently oscillating strip supporting barrel, a movable cutter, and stop means for limiting the advance of the tack strip, said machine comprising a reel for holding a coiled tack strip, and means, including a drive connection to the reel independent of the tack strip, for turning the reel when the cutter is retracted, to advance the strip into the barrel.

i. A tack machine of the type having an intermittently oscillating strip supporting barrel, a reciprocatory cutter, and stop means for limiting the advance of the tack strip, said machine comprising a reel for holding a coiled tack strip, means for gripping and advancing the tack strip, and means for turning the reel intermittently, said latter means being constructed and arranged to operate when the cutter is retracted from the path of the advancing strip. 7

A tack machine of the type having an intermittently oscillating strip supporting barrel, a reciprocatory cutter, and stop means 3 for limiting the advance of the tack strip,

said machine comprising a reel for holding acoiled tack strip, feed means for advancing the tack strip, the strip being free to twistthroughout substantially the entire distance between said feed means and the reel, and

means for intermittently turning the reel to.

intermittently, said pawl andratchet means acting to turn the reel while the cutter is retracted from the path of the advancing strip.

7. A tack machine of the type having an intermittently oscillating strip supporting barrel, a reciprocatory cutter, and stop means for limiting the advanceof the tack strip, said machine comprising a reel for holding a coiled tack strip, and means for turning the reel to unwind the strip, said means including slip connections.

8. A tack machine of the type having an intermittently oscillating strip supporting barrel, a reciprocatory cutter, and stop means for limiting the advance of the tack strip, said machine comprising a reel for holding a coiled tack strip, means for feeding the tack strip toward the cutting point, and means including a friction clutch for turning the reel.

9. A tack machine of the type having an intermittently oscillating strip supporting barrel, a reciprocatory cutter, and stop means for limiting the advance of the tack strip, said machine comprising a reel for holding a coiled tack strip, positive feed means for advancing the tack strip toward the cutting point, and means for turning the reel including a positively driven member and friction clutch means interposed between said member and the reel. 7

10. A tack machine of the type having an intermittently oscillating strip supporting barrel, a reciprocatory cutter, and stop means for limiting the advance of the tack strip, said machine comprising a reel for. holding a coiled back strip, positive feed means for advancing the tack strip toward the cutting point, and means for intermittently turning the reel comprising a ratchet wheel, a pawl for driving the wheel stepby step, and a friction member interposed between the ratchet wheel and reel for driving the latter.

11. A tack machine of the type having an intermittently oscillating strip supporting barrel, a reciprocatory cutter, and stop means for limiting the advance of the tackstrip, said machine comprising a reel for holding a coiled tack strip, means for advancing the tack strip toward the cutting point, strip straightening means between the reel and the receiving end of the barrel, and means for unwinding the reel and urging the tack strip through the straightening means.

12.- A tack machine comprising a movable cutter for severing tack strip, an oscillating guide for the tack strip, a feeding device for presenting the tack strip to the cutter, a reel for holding a coil of the tack strip, means for unwinding tack strip from the reel and presenting it to said feeding means, driving connections for the cutter and guide arranged to oscillate the guide while-the cutter is in the path of the advancing tack strip, and driving connections for actuating the feeding device and the unwinding means when the cutter has cleared the path of the tack strip.

Signed by us, at Brockton, Massachusetts, this 28th day of November, 1928.

GEORGE B. BAKER. HERBERT B. BAKER. EDWARD C. BAKER. 

